Player of the Match
Player of the Match
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    9.1 sensational take from Crawley at point! That is unreal, an open-faced drive through the full length from Head, Crawley was just in front of square and saw it straight off the bat, stooped to his left and clung on in one hand, inches from the turf! No time to think, just let instinct take over. Both openers gone, Khawaja enters the scene! 33/2
    8.2 out of the blue, a wicket! Weatherald winds into his pull but it was a sharp bouncer from round the wicket, 147kph, well directed, and simply spooned off the splice to Smith, who jogged round from behind the stumps and barely celebrated as he pocketed the chance. On another day, that would have soared through fine leg for a boundary 33/1
    24.1 paddled straight to midwicket! What a start to the session! Labuschagne was neither forward nor back, a flat-batted waft across the back-of-a-length ball, 134kph, no power through the stroke, no footwork to keep it down or launch it up. Just a lollipop into Carse's midriff - an even easier chance than the one he dropped last week. Stunning! 94/3
    47.2 taken at deep square leg! Khawaja's given it away. The delivery after the one that spun, he goes for the slog sweep, can't keep it down and it's well taken running in. What a moment for Jacks 185/5
    24.3 flipped off the legs, straight to midwicket again! Madness, utter madness! It's a powder-soft dismissal ... 138kph, a tentative poke off the pads, leaning forward but failing to get over the ball. Carse is on hand once more... and moves well to his right to pouch his second! 94/4
    77.2 top edge, and taken! Looks to fetch this from wide outside off with a slog sweep, just sends it straight up in the air and Smith settles under it 321/8
    32
    39
    57
    4
    0
    82.05
    60.5 fuller length, into the timbers! That's what Tongue can do! It's the first true dismissal of the day, Tongue attacks the stumps, extra energy off the pitch as Inglis tries to defend on the back foot, and can only deflect the ball down into his middle stump. Priceless wicket, as England access the lower order 244/6
    65.5 on the pads, fended to short leg! Up goes the finger, though Cummins isn't budging. He reviews, but England are convinced... and there's a spike! A thin graze off the inside-edge, into his body, away to Pope under the lid! 271/7
    85.2 straight through 'im! Archer finds his line, finds his length and dings the top of leg stump much to England's relief! Starc caught on the crease and playing all around a good one. Stokes looks to the skies. He's having an animated conversation with Archer even as England celebrate 348/9
    91.2 Lyon misses a straight one! Up goes the finger, Archer has five... or does he? Lyon reviews, though maybe just because he can. Struck on the back leg, just above the knee roll, very much adjacent. And it's hitting the top of middle, umpire's call! Nitin Menon raises his finger again, and it's over to England's batters 371/10
    not out
    14
    21
    26
    3
    0
    66.66
    Extras
    14 (lb 7, nb 7)
    TOTAL
    371 all out (91.2 Overs, RR: 4.06, 421 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Jake Weatherald, 8.2 ov), 2-33 (Travis Head, 9.1 ov), 3-94 (Marnus Labuschagne, 24.1 ov), 4-94 (Cameron Green, 24.3 ov), 5-185 (Usman Khawaja, 47.2 ov), 6-244 (Josh Inglis, 60.5 ov), 7-271 (Pat Cummins, 65.5 ov), 8-321 (Alex Carey, 77.2 ov), 9-348 (Mitchell Starc, 85.2 ov), 10-371 (Nathan Lyon, 91.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    JC Archer20.255352.600
    BA Carse1608925.5606
    JC Tongue161641400
    BA Stokes1935302.7801
    WG Jacks20310525.2500
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    7.4 a ripper! The captain strikes. Back of a length around off stump, Crawley has to play, straightens just a fraction off the seam. Grazes the outside edge near the top of the bat. Terrific bowling, Pat's back 37/1
    29
    30
    53
    5
    0
    96.66
    9.6 cleaned up with a beauty! What a delivery. Pitches on off stump, grips and turns past the bat, takes the top of off stump. A dream delivery for the offspinner 42/3
    9.3 strikes third ball! Awful from Pope. Full outside off, flicks it in the air to midwicket where it's well taken. Goodness, that's poor batting. What a start for Lyon. 41/2
    16.4 Cummins nicks Root off! Easy as you like from Australia's captain, and that is a huge blow to English faith in the City of Churches. Probing line but Root has been sucked into playing one he could have left. Just enough movement to take the edge and there's no doubt this carried to Carey. Cummins gets Root for the 12th time in Tests, and England's hopes of matching Australia's first innings take another hit 71/4
    36.2 edged, caught behind! Green strikes. Massive moment. Terrific delivery from Green, in the channel outside off, hint of shape away from Brook who is squared up without much footwork 127/5
    83
    198
    312
    8
    0
    41.91
    84.1 Starc knocks Stokes over once again! It's a familiar tale, the wobble-seam, cutting back through the gate from over the wicket, as Stokes collapses across his stumps after being beaten on the inside-edge. Archer runs down to the boundary to congratulate his skipper, but Stokes is livid after taking the wrong option there 274/9
    45.1 short ball again, Smith swings across the line - and Cummins celebrates! Has he nicked this one? And did it carry? Nitin Menon asks Chris Gaffaney to check. The ball goes straight into the gloves, clearly. And Snicko has a clear spike, despite what looks like a gap between bat and ball! Gaffaney goes with the technology, and Smith has to walk! He goes shaking his head, while Stokes look to be fuming. Smith was actually getting ready to review himself, thinking he had been given out (and presumably convinced he hadn't hit it) 159/6
    52.2 brilliantly done! Carey's magic hands again! Jacks gets a nick on to his pads and Australia's silky glovemen is alert to the rebound, diving to his right to claim the catch. Ahsan Raza doesn't take long to make his decision, and there's no need to go to the DRS this time 168/7
    54.1 cleaned up! It's all falling in a heap for England. Length ball at off stump, skims past the edge and takes the top of middle and off. Lovely delivery 168/8
    87.2 very full, drilled into slip's midriff! Archer flung his hands through the length, but Boland's nip off the seam is too much for Archer's ambitions. Labuschagne tumbles backwards as he cushions the edge. That ends a very gutsy morning's work from England, but they remain right up against it 286/10
    not out
    7
    12
    17
    0
    0
    58.33
    Extras
    12 (b 3, lb 5, nb 4)
    TOTAL
    286 all out (87.2 Overs, RR: 3.27, 418 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Zak Crawley, 7.4 ov), 2-41 (Ollie Pope, 9.3 ov), 3-42 (Ben Duckett, 9.6 ov), 4-71 (Joe Root, 16.4 ov), 5-127 (Harry Brook, 36.2 ov), 6-159 (Jamie Smith, 45.1 ov), 7-168 (Will Jacks, 52.2 ov), 8-168 (Brydon Carse, 54.1 ov), 9-274 (Ben Stokes, 84.1 ov), 10-286 (Jofra Archer, 87.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    MA Starc1616113.8101
    PJ Cummins1736934.0501
    SM Boland15.264532.9301
    NM Lyon2857022.500
    C Green113331301
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    170
    219
    325
    16
    2
    77.62
    73.6 oh, whoops... Head's gone! Tongue's weird cross-limbed angles do the job straight away. Banged in short, Head attempts to hit it into the Torrens, only succeeds in picking out Crawley at deep square leg. He almost lost it in the sun at the last moment, but manages to cling on as he goes to ground. No CB for Travis, but it's been a Heady knock, warmly applauded by everyone in at Adelaide Oval 311/5
    1.3 over the wicket from Carse, heavy ball just back of a length, Weatherald is squared up and pinned on the pad! It's a huge appeal and up goes the finger from Nitin Menon, but that surely pitched outside leg? Weatherald topples across to the off-side after impact, which adds to the impression of plumbness... but his partner Head doesn't think it's worthy of a second opinion. Huge mistake! That's pitched three inches outside the line! 8/1
    16.3 edged, has this carried?! England are convinced. Back of a length at off stump, squared up again, takes the shoulder of the bat and Brook grabs it low to the ground at the lone slip. Fingers definitely under that. Very good catch 53/2
    35.1 edged, caught behind! Would you believe it. Basically a long hop outside off, Khawaja goes for the cut and gets a top edge which is well taken by Smith. Bowled for, and got? 139/3
    36.5 edged, taken at slip! Sharp low catch. Green's problems continues. Full outside off, reaches out for a drive and gets a thick which is very well taken by Brook 149/4
    78.2 glanced off the armpit... straight into the leg trap! No twin tons for Carey! Again Stokes is the inspiration for England, even if it is all too little too late. Banged into the body, manages to get enough life from the deck to hurry the set batter, and Brook pouches it low to his left 329/6
    79.5 edged, caught behind! England chip away. Back of a length at off stump, Inglis has a fiddle with an open face, almost guides the edge through to Smith. Unconvincing stay for Inglis 335/7
    83.1 edged, taken at slip! Full outside off, no footwork from Cummins, reaches out for a drive and nicks it head-height to Brook who takes his fourth catch of the innings 344/8
    not out
    7
    8
    28
    1
    0
    87.5
    83.2 full and straight, given lbw! Angling towards middle and leg, Lyon plays across it. He's called the review but is walking at the same time. Smashing middle and leg, three reds. 344/9
    84.4 taken, good catch! A well-directed short ball at the chest, Boland fends it to the off side, Archer makes good from his follow through, dives and holds on 349/10
    Extras
    22 (b 4, lb 10, nb 5, w 3)
    TOTAL
    349 all out (84.4 Overs, RR: 4.12, 386 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Jake Weatherald, 1.3 ov), 2-53 (Marnus Labuschagne, 16.3 ov), 3-139 (Usman Khawaja, 35.1 ov), 4-149 (Cameron Green, 36.5 ov), 5-311 (Travis Head, 73.6 ov), 6-329 (Alex Carey, 78.2 ov), 7-335 (Josh Inglis, 79.5 ov), 8-344 (Pat Cummins, 83.1 ov), 9-344 (Nathan Lyon, 83.2 ov), 10-349 (Scott Boland, 84.4 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    JC Archer12.422011.5702
    BA Carse201803401
    JC Tongue1807043.8822
    WG Jacks19010715.6300
    JE Root80320400
    BA Stokes702613.7110
  • BATSMEN
    R
    B
    M
    4s
    6s
    SR
    53.3 done him! Carey again. Another great piece of work. Lovely bowling, too. Full outside off, draws Crawley into the drive, beats the edge, excellent take because it was so full and Carey whips off the bails 194/6
    1.2 edged, taken at second slip! That didn't take long. Quick adjustment from Cummins, back of a length outside off, a weak poke from Duckett and it flies at chest height into the cordon. No footwork, pushing well away from the body 4/1
    9.4 screamer from Marnus! Pope runs out of rope! Cummins gets the wicket, but with a mighty assist in the slip cordon. Hard hands looking to defend, results in a phat edge that looks as if it won't quite carry... until Labuschagne throws himself full length to his left and clings on one-handed. Marnus' celebration would put Imran Tahir in the shade. But it was a worldie 31/2
    28.6 Cummins bags Root again! Brilliant bowling, and Australia seize the moment straight after tea. Unlucky No. 13 for Root against Cummins, the Englishman furious with himself after being drawn into another guilty prod in the channel. Big deflection through to Carey. Root punches the back of his bat before dragging himself from the field 109/3
    30
    56
    80
    2
    0
    53.57
    47.2 cleaned up, Brook misses the reverse! For some reason, Brook is standing there. Pitches outside off, spins sharply, he misses over the top of it and the ball clips the outside of leg stump. He's scored from that shot, but it looks a bad dismissal 177/4
    51.6 what a ball! Lyon pulls out a ripper. Round the wicket, drifts into middle, straightens and spins past the bat to take the top of off stump. Special delivery. Sometimes, you really do get a good one 189/5
    82.5 taken at wide mid-on! Smith gives it away. Oh my goodness, massive brain fade. Back of a length, straight, looks to launch it over the on side, sends it up in the air and Cummins settles under it moving to his right 285/7
    97.2 Labuschagne with the flying catch at slip! That could be the end of England's dream! It's the wobble-seam from Starc, Jacks goes at it with hard hands, there's a big snick but what a grab, diving across at first slip, clinging on in one hand! It's his second worldie of the match, and it may have handed Australia the Ashes! In fairness, it was probably Carey's catch, but Marnus is on it! 337/8
    not out
    39
    64
    94
    4
    1
    60.93
    101.3 taken at deep point! Short outside off, Archer goes for an upper cut square of the wicket and couldn't have placed it any better to the fielder. Did he not see the sweeper out there? Australia need one more. Big effort from Starc 349/9
    102.5 edged, taken at second slip! Full outside off, Tongue drives, and this is pretty regulation by Labuschagne's standards. Boland gets on the board with the wicket which wins the Ashes 352/10
    Extras
    22 (b 4, lb 14, nb 3, w 1)
    TOTAL
    352 all out (102.5 Overs, RR: 3.42, 456 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Ben Duckett, 1.2 ov), 2-31 (Ollie Pope, 9.4 ov), 3-109 (Joe Root, 28.6 ov), 4-177 (Harry Brook, 47.2 ov), 5-189 (Ben Stokes, 51.6 ov), 6-194 (Zak Crawley, 53.3 ov), 7-285 (Jamie Smith, 82.5 ov), 8-337 (Will Jacks, 97.2 ov), 9-349 (Jofra Archer, 101.3 ov), 10-352 (Josh Tongue, 102.5 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    MA Starc1736233.6410
    PJ Cummins1744832.8202
    SM Boland17.553511.9600
    NM Lyon2567733.0800
    C Green1004404.401
    TM Head1536104.0600
    M Labuschagne1070700

Match Details

Toss

Australia , elected to bat first

Player Of The Match

Series result

Australia led the 5-match series 3-0

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00

Match days

17,18,19,20,21 December 2025 (5-day match)

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Points

Australia 12, England 0

Close of Play

  • Wed, 17 Dec - day 1 - Australia 1st innings 326/8 (MA Starc 33*, NM Lyon 0*, 83 ov)
  • Thu, 18 Dec - day 2 - England 1st innings 213/8 (BA Stokes 45*, JC Archer 30*, 68 ov)
  • Fri, 19 Dec - day 3 - Australia 2nd innings 271/4 (TM Head 142*, AT Carey 52*, 66 ov)
  • Sat, 20 Dec - day 4 - England 2nd innings 207/6 (JL Smith 2*, WG Jacks 11*, 63 ov)
  • Sun, 21 Dec - day 5 - England 2nd innings 352 (102.5 ov) - end of match

Match Notes

England 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4BM DuckettZ Crawley
2nd27Z CrawleyOJ Pope
3rd78JE RootZ Crawley
4th68Z CrawleyHC Brook
5th12BA StokesZ Crawley
6th5Z CrawleyJL Smith
7th91WG JacksJL Smith
8th52BA CarseWG Jacks
9th12BA CarseJC Archer
10th3BA CarseJC Tongue